Claire Rattée becomes 10th B.C. Conservative to leave caucus since August, riding Skeena MLA

The Story

The British Columbia Conservative Party has lost another member of its caucus, with MLA Claire Rattée becoming the 10th Conservative to leave since August. The change was confirmed through the office of the clerk, which indicated Rattée is no longer part of the official Opposition caucus.

Rattée represents the riding of Skeena and made her position clear in a statement tying her departure to leadership conduct. In that statement, she said party leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay is trying to “oust members of her own caucus,” and called for Findlay to resign immediately.

The departure adds to an ongoing internal caucus dispute within the B.C. Conservatives that has been unfolding over the past several weeks. The reporting notes that at least 10 Conservatives have signed a letter calling on Findlay to quit, linking broader membership pressure to the latest resignation from caucus.

Rattée’s statement also argues the conflict reflects poor judgment on Findlay’s part, and it frames the leadership question as incompatible with someone seeking to become premier. In addition to the call for resignation, the criticism positions the caucus exits as evidence of instability within the party’s internal direction.

From a legislative standpoint, the shift changes the balance of caucus membership in the B.C. legislature. With Rattée leaving the Opposition caucus, the number of Independents in the legislature increases, with the reporting stating it is now 15.

The reporting also recounts Findlay’s response to speculation about her political future. During the same day’s developments, Findlay said Thursday that she was not leaving the helm, responding to comments circulating amid questions about whether Premier David Eby could call an early election.

The context around the caucus exits matters to how the Opposition operates in the legislature. When MLAs leave caucus to sit as Independents or otherwise depart party structures, it can affect how parties organize their votes and how they present themselves to the public during ongoing political contests.

For constituents in Skeena, the practical effect is that their MLA will continue to serve in the legislature but without the same caucus alignment previously attached to the Conservatives. The reported change also underscores a period of fragmentation within the B.C. Conservatives that has accelerated since August, with Rattée’s departure being the latest in a series.

As of Sept. 18, 2026, the key facts remain that Rattée has formally left the official Opposition caucus, that she attributes her decision to leadership behavior she links to attempts to remove members, and that caucus instability has increased the Independent presence in the legislature to 15. The most immediate political consequence is an expanded Independent bloc while the Conservatives contend with continuing pressure on Findlay’s leadership.